Efficacy of ultrasound in diagnosis and treatment of the shoulder – A systematic review

Abstract

Objectives. The aim of this study was to provide an overview of the scientific evidence base on the use of ultrasonography in physiotherapy and rehabilitation of the shoulder. Methods. The PubMed / Medline database was reviewed using the following keywords: shoulder ultrasonography AND rehabilitation; shoulder ultrasound imaging AND physiotherapy; shoulder ultrasound imaging AND rehabilitation; Rehabilitative Ultrasound Imaging AND Shoulder. Only full-text, open-access studies in English published before 15 May 2022 were included in the analysis. Results. 51 articles (out of 748 identified) were included in the analysis. Of all the studies, 3 studies were randomized, 5 were not randomized, the rest were cross-sectional or case studies. The most common study group were patients with hemiplegia (in 13 out of 51 reviewed works). 12 papers out of 51 concerned orthopedic conditions of the shoulder with varying diagnoses. Ultrasound imaging was used mainly to assess echogenicity and measure structures of the shoulder. Conclusion. There are many studies demonstrating the utility of ultrasound in various aspects of the physiotherapist’s practice, including but not limited to diagnostic purposes, assessment of treatment effectiveness, monitoring treatment progress, and referring the patient to another specialist.